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SailormoonT: Tragedy
Written By Neko Athena^o,o^
Rating: PG-13
Comments, Rants, Etc.: supremethunder4@bolt.com,
RE: SailormoonT!

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~ Author's Notes : The crisis over Calculus has been subdued
for a while. We made Algebra Hats(TM)! We worked
out the algebra for the day on construction paper,
then folded them into hats, so the knowledge would
soak into our brains. *HAPPY HAPPY, JOY JOY!!*
I just hope mine works!
(Teach also suggested that, if the hat didn't work,
we could try Algebra Bongs... he's a strange one...)


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Episode 6, part II
We're fighting a river? Megaera wants revenge!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~ "What happened then, who got to be Queen?" "The ~~~
~~~eldest daughter was crowned when the Queen stepped down~~~
~~~and the younger moved on." "Was she mad?" "No, she ~~~
~~~just didn't want to get in her sister's way... that's ~~~
~~~all." "Didn't she still get to be a Princess, or a ~~~
~~~Duchess or something?" "She remained a member of the ~~~
~~~Royal Family, and became the high Priestess at a temple~~~
~~~of the Moon." "Wow, just like Rei-san!" ~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*~*~*

Rei "Oh Sacred Fire, light of the Heavens, help me see the
face of my adversary. I pray that you lend me your strength,
to vanquish the evil plaguing this land! Sacred Fire, give me
your divine sight, show me my enemy!"

::Everyone gathered in the Fire Room of the Hikawa Shrine
holds their breath. For a moment, all is still; the only
sound comes from the crackling of the fire itself. Then, a
huge, fiery gust of wind rushes into the room, fanning the
flames high into the air. Even Rei is a little startled by
the sudden violence of the fire. Inside the waving,
shimmering heat, a vision begins to materialize. The Senshi
look into the fire, and into a wasteland. Rotting vegetation
sags to the thick, black muck of a riverbank, where a soupy
fog clings and swims like fingers reaching out into the night.
the murky water of the river devoid of any life form.
Overhead, gray clouds hang menacingly. In the distance, a
faint light can be seen, moving through the gloom toward the
riverbank. The light has a very strange quality, almost
glowing darker, a beacon radiating pure blackness. It comes
closer, and out of the fog, a small boat emerges, just as
decayed as the surroundings. The light is coming from a
rusted lantern hanging from a large pole at the bow. As the
tail of the boat slips from the fog curtain, the Senshi gasp
and shrink back, horrified. The boatman, pushing the ancient
barge along the river with a thin stick, is nothing but bones.
The skeleton's jaw is upturned in an eternal, terrible grin.
Its only garment is a tattered black cloak, which covers it
head to foot. Cobwebs are spread across its decrepit
shoulders to its staff, inside its hood, and even in its
vacant eye sockets. The boat grounds on the bank. From
nowhere, two silky beings melt out of the fog and boards the
craft. The boatman extends a bony hand, and each ghost pulls
a gold coin from their mouth, giving it to him. He drops the
coins into a pouch tied around his skinny waist, then turns
the boat around and vanishes back into the fog with his
passengers. The Senshi are watching, unable to take their
eyes off the vision, but only Rei can hear the hideous
laughter, the laughter of their enemy. Then, just as suddenly
as before, a frosty gust of wind sweeps into the room,
reducing the fire to smoldering embers. The girls cry out in
the sudden darkness. They rush out of the Fire Room and into
the sitting room, gasping for breath. With trembling fingers,
Rei finds the light switch.::

Mak. "Th-That w-w-was..."
Min. "HORRIBLE!"
Usa. "I-I-I-I-It was just BONES! EWEWEWEWEWEWEWEWEWEWEW..."
Ami "I've never seen ANYTHING so terrible... that place was
like-"
Rei "Hell."
All, looking up "Huh?"
Rei "It was hell... or a kind of hell. A place where
everything is dead, and evil, and-"
??? "TEA, ANYONE!?"

::The Inner Senshi jump and scream in horror. But standing in
the door is only Rei's grandfather. When they see it is him,
they sigh with relief.::

Grp. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you, but it's tea-time, ya
know!" sets tea tray on table "Ya don't need to jump outta
your skin!"
Rei "Sorry, Ojii-chan, we were...uh, telling ghost stories.
You just surprised us, but it's all right! Thank you for the
tea!"
All "Yes, thank you!"
Grp. "Oh, you girls are always welcome! Just don't scare
yourselves too much."
Rei "We won't, Ojii-chan!"

::As Grandpa leaves the room, the girls sigh with relief.::

Mak. "But that skeleton wasn't our enemy, was it?"
Ami "No, I think the vision was showing us the river, Styx."
Rei "Yes. That was it. Now, I remember the old legend of
the river of the dead. And please... STOP CRYING, USAGI, IT'S
OVER!!!"
Usa. "*sniff* B-B-B-But he w-w-w-was j-j-just BONES!!!
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Min., sweat-dropping and patting Usagi's back "It's all right,
let it all out."
Mak., rubbing ear "You feel any better?"
Usa. "Yeah- *sniff* a little."
Ami "Please, continue, Rei. I think I remember the legend,
as well."
Rei "As I've heard it, in ancient Greece, the family members
of someone who had died always put a gold coin in that
person's mouth before burial, to pay a boatman who would carry
them down the river of the dead to the underworld. If they
had led a just life, then they were rewarded with eternal
happiness in Elysion, where Helios is. But, if they were
wicked, they had to remain in the underworld and suffer a
personal punishment."
Usa. "W-What kind of punishment?"
Ami "One man was punished by being eternally starving, and
just above his head was a branch with delicious fruit. But
the fruit was always just beyond his reach, no matter what he
tried."
Usa. "ACK! No food!? That's EVIL! Ami, you guys, I'm gonna
have NIGHTMARES!!"
Ami "But Rei, Styx doesn't translate to 'river of the dead'."
Rei "Really? What does it mean?"
Ami "It translates more accurately into 'river of hate'. And
that would explain Alecto and Tisiphone speaking of spreading
hate throughout the world and being afraid of Crystal Tokyo's
love."
Min. "You're right, but the question remains...who exactly is
our enemy? It can't be the RIVER, itself, can it?"
Mak. "We need to find Mamoru-san and contact the other Senshi
immediately."
Usa., gasping "That's right! Mamo-chan!"
Rei "What about him?"
Usa. "He was acting strange when I called him this morning.
He said he had something to do at the museum. I was going
to follow him, because I have suspicions that that BIMBO
from the other day might have something to do with it!"
Ami "Usagi-chan, you seem genuinely worried about Mamoru.
What's wrong?"
Usa. "I just can't believe he'd do something like that,
especially... since Chibi-usa is gone now."
Ami "But maybe she was a friend or sister of one of his
college friends. Maybe he was just being nice."
Usa., solemn "But the red rose is our special token, a symbol
of OUR love. I don't like the idea of him giving one away
to a stranger so carelessly."
Min. "Then what are we waiting for, let's go and get him!"
Usa., smiling "Right, let's go!"

*~*~*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~ "This temple is one that grants protection and peace ~~~
~~~to those who had lost their way and was a place where ~~~
~~~even the smallest prayers could be heard by the Gods. ~~~
~~~It was a holy place where heroes could seek guidance ~~~
~~~and paupers could seek answers to their prayers." ~~~
~~~ "Where was this temple?" "The Moon Kingdom's capital ~~~
~~~was in the 'Sea of Serenity', Mare Serenitatis. This ~~~
~~~was the Queen's namesake. Therefore, it was fitting ~~~
~~~that the Queen's sister keep the temple in Mare ~~~
~~~Serenitatis' twin sea... Mare Tranquillitatis, the 'Sea~~~
~~~of Tranquillity'. This sea was the namesake of the ~~~
~~~Queen's sister." "Is there a sea called 'Small Lady'?"~~~
~~~ "*giggle* No, I'm afraid not." "Aw, that's not fair."~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*~*~*

Girl "Oh, you actually came... I thought you weren't really
serious!"
Mam. "Of course I was serious, I would never lie to such a
beautiful lady."
Girl, blushing "Oh, you... you're so romantic! *giggle*"

::Mamoru and the mysterious girl from the day before are
walking down the street. She grabs his arm affectionately.
That morning, just before Usagi's phone call, the girl had
called him and asked if he would mind going with her to the
Museum of Natural History. A new exhibit opens today, an
exhibit on the art of war in ancient times. As they turn
toward the museum and head up the large steps to the door,
Mamoru is hardly paying attention to where he is going. Once
again, he feels as if he is in a deep sleep, yet he doesn't
feel tired at all; he only feels detached. His thoughts and
his body seem separated completely.::

Girl "I'm so excited about the exhibit, Mamoru, darling! I'm
glad you could come with me."
Mam. How does she know my name? Why did she call me
'darling'? I shouldn't be here... Being with you makes me
happy, no matter where we go. Just as long as we're together.
That's what matters."
Girl "Oh, being loved is so wonderful! How did I manage to
snag such a perfect guy, huh?"
Mam. I don't know. What's wrong with me? I'm in love with
someone else, aren't I? I should be with, with... what's her
name? "I really don't think I'm anywhere near good enough for
you."

::They enter the building doors and pay for their tickets.
Mamoru and his 'date' slowly walk to the left toward the
main exhibit hall. Over the archway hangs a sign, reading:
THE HISTORY OF WAR. They go through the first room, which
focuses on Egyptian and Babylonian weaponry, and into the
next. Across the far wall of the second room, a row of
suits of armor stand on pedestals. In the center is a
large Roman chariot in a glass case, and spears and swords
hang next to model flags. The couple stop in front of the
chariot.::

Girl "Oh, look at the wonderful armor, Mamoru! Isn't it
fabulous!?"
Mam. This is ridiculous, I have to get my thoughts straight.
I have to force myself out of this... I'm not even controlling
my body anymore. And I love someone else... I HAVE to
remember...

:Mamoru shuts his eyes, concentrating.::

Mam. "N-No!"

::He forces his shaking hand to push the girl away. She
seems only mildly surprised by his sudden move. The weight
on his mind seems to be lifting and he can feel himself
waking up. But just as his thoughts begin to clear, the
girl walks back to him and stares him in the eyes. The
weight returns, and again he finds himself struggling to
concentrate. His will gives out, and his mind slips away,
just as if he were asleep on his feet. Satisfied, the girl
turns and walks over to the row of armor. Each seems to
represent a different city-state from the Greek and Roman
Empires. Her pale blue eyes turn to him, flashing suddenly
darker.::

Girl "Hm... have you ever heard of Achilles, darling?"
Mam., monotone "Yes. He was a Warrior in ancient Greece."
Girl "That's right. But he was no ordinary warrior... his
whole body was invulnerable to any weapon, accept his heel.
His mother dipped him in the river Styx when he was a baby,
and held him by the heel."

::As the girl speaks, she circles behind the chariot. On
the other side, Megaera emerges in her blue robes. Megaera
walks over to Mamoru and puts her hands on his shoulders,
locking eyes with him.::

Meg. "He was our greatest warrior, and if it wasn't for
that stupid arrow, he would have spread so much wonderful
hate throughout the world for us. But now, you see, he
is going to come back and help me do away with your beloved
Queen. It's just not fair that you should be so happy
together... and I simply can't allow her to live. You are
very powerful, King Endymion, but you cannot break my
spell..."

*~*~*

::The Inner Senshi are standing inside the Museum of
Natural History, about to go into the exhibit hall.::

Usa. "Come on, he said he was going to the new exhibit!"
Mak. "By himself?"
Usa. "SUPPOSEDLY..."
Rei "That is suspicious!"
Ami "The new exhibit is on ancient warfare and weaponry, this
looks very educational... and interesting!"
All "UGH, AMI!!!"

::The others sweat-drop and stare at their friend. Little by
little, they inch toward the hall.::

Ami "Oh, you guys, I think it would be fun!"
Usa. "Sure, Ami, whatever. You cram while I find Mamo-chan,
okay?"
Ami, sweat-dropping "You all have no sense of history."
Usa. "Who wants one..."

::The Senshi enter the first hall, which is deserted. In the
next room, Megaera's voice echoes in. Following the voices,
they sneak up to the doorway.::

Meg. "I can't let someone like her be so happy; it's not
fair to ME. She took my sisters from me, so I must take
her loved-ones away as well. So I suppose you will both
have to die. I'm sure they will all be here soon..."
Min. "It's that witch, Megaera!"
Usa. "I knew something bad was happening!"
Ami "Everyone, transform!"

::Megaera spots the Senshi by the door and smiles to herself.
Before the Senshi can raise their Henshin Sticks, the heavy
doors begin to slide down, sealing off the Greco-Roman Room.::

Usa. "No, Mamo-chan!"
Mak. "Quick, Usagi, DIVE!!"

::Makoto and Rei push Usagi down under the closing door. The
other Senshi follow, barely rolling inside the room before
the door hits the floor. Standing, they quickly transform.::

Moon "Megaera, I will not allow you to ruin happiness because
of your own selfishness. You, like your sisters, will be
punished for your wickedness!"


*{End Episode 6, part II}*